Dear technophiles, I managed to drop my nearside front into a rather cavernous pothole yesterday. Roomie 3 1,9Tdi with the normal 16" wheels.

It seems to drive OK, and I cannot see any obvious wheel or tyre damage. However I have to drive across France this week, about 700 mi in all.

My previous car, a Focus, managed to buckle an (alloy) wheel and knacker a wheel bearing after a similar escapade.

Is the Roomie generally resilient to these kinds of knocks or should I get it checked out before I go?

Cheers

Steve

If it really was a substantial hole, then a precautionary tracking check might be wise. Cheaper than 2 new tyres because of uneven wear.

Hi Steve,

A number of threads suggest the Roomy and Furby are sensitive to even the slightest inaccuracy in suspension geometry.

If the car doesn't pull left or right on a flat road, there is probably no damage to the suspension.

It might be worth getting the tyre checked rather than risk a blow-out.

Rob

Hi Steve,

A number of threads suggest the Roomy and Furby are sensitive to even the slightest inaccuracy in suspension geometry.

If the car doesn't pull left or right on a flat road, there is probably no damage to the suspension.

It might be worth getting the tyre checked rather than risk a blow-out.

Rob

Thanks Rob, if thats the case I am probably OK. 20 mile trip on motorway did not show anything untoward. Steers with the road camber but thats normal. Will check tyre wear anyway.

I put the car up on jacks today and cannot find any sign of damage to wheel or tyres. No dents, bulges or cracks.

Hopefully got away with this one.

Steve

If it really was a substantial hole, then a precautionary tracking check might be wise. Cheaper than 2 new tyres because of uneven wear.

Too true. However I cant detect any waywardness in the steering and the front tyres are coming up for replacement anyway, so I will keep an eye on the wear pattern.

Edited 10 August, 201015 yr by Broomster

I would get it inspected before your trip to France, just incase the tyre has become damaged or deformed in some way that maybe isn't easy to spot.

I would get it inspected before your trip to France, just incase the tyre has become damaged or deformed in some way that maybe isn't easy to spot.

I probably should - I will if I have time this afternoon. Having said that I had a very good look myself and there is nothing at all obvious - no cracks, bulges or delamination.

Best just to stay on the safe side.

I hit a rather deep and large pot hole at about 70km/h. Front left wheel was damaged. One area of the wheel was flattened.

Wanted to knock it back to round but when they remove the tyres, they found the rims cracked.

No choice but to change a set of rims.

Best just to stay on the safe side.

I took it into my local garage (not dealer) and they kindly put i on the lift and had a good squiz at the wheels. No damage visible. I subsequently did 800 miles across France with no issues so I guess I got lucky this time (unlike my Focus which warped a rim after a similar incident)

You where lucky this time. Two winters in a row I have had to buy a new alloy because of dropping into potholes. I think the alloys are really soft.

I recently took my car for some warranty work only to find a whole host of things wrong. One of the things was the two front wheels where wearing unevenly and the rear nearside is out of shape. When I first saw the uneven wear I got the wheels re balanced and the tracking checked both were out very slightly but not out enough really to explain the wear on both front tyre’s.

If it really was a substantial hole, then a precautionary tracking check might be wise. Cheaper than 2 new tyres because of uneven wear.

OK OFF TOPIC but given location and thread topic can be excused.

After your quake in CCH hope you are ok - but you might need to miss a few new potholes in your part.

Any oics of Hagley park & Mona Vale - I suspect the latter came of petty bad Is the Pro Cathedaral damaged?

You where lucky this time. Two winters in a row I have had to buy a new alloy because of dropping into potholes. I think the alloys are really soft.

I recently took my car for some warranty work only to find a whole host of things wrong. One of the things was the two front wheels where wearing unevenly and the rear nearside is out of shape. When I first saw the uneven wear I got the wheels re balanced and the tracking checked both were out very slightly but not out enough really to explain the wear on both front tyre’s.

The outside edge on both my frints has been wearing more than the middle, but thats been the case since new. I have done 16k on the fronts and reckon I have another 4 or more to go.

I certainly used to bend alloys on my Focus, but so far the Skud has put up with quite a bit of unplanned abuse.

The outside edge of my fronts is exactly where mine are wearing. I had both my console bushes replaced under warrenty about a month ago so combined with some new rubbers and a new rear alloy that may cure the problem. Just in time to sell it.